Tudor Book Blog

First off, two new books have been recently released in the UK/USA:

Death and the Virgin by Chris Skidmore-This book investigates the death (and possible murder) of Amy Dudley, wife of Robert Dudley who died after a fall down the stairs. According to the product description, “Had it not been for the mysterious and untimely death of his wife, Amy Robsart, Elizabeth might have one day been able to marry Dudley, since Amy was believed to be dying of breast cancer. Instead, the suspicious circumstances surrounding Amy Robsart’s death would cast a long shadow over Elizabeth’s life, preventing any hope of a union with Dudley and ultimately shaping the course of Tudor history. Using newly discovered evidence from the archives, Christopher Skidmore is able to put an end to centuries of speculation as to the true causes of her death. This is the story of a remarkable and frenetic period in Elizabeth’s life: a tale of love, death and tragedy, exploring the dramatic early life of England’s Virgin Queen.”

This was recently released in the UK and the USA on Feb. 25th 2010.

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Katherine the Queen: The Remarkable Life of Katherine Parr was released in the UK and USA in March of this year. According to the product description, “despite the vivid interest of her life, this is the first full-scale, accessible biography of this fascinating woman who was, in reality, one of the most influential and active queen consorts in English history.”

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Now for some upcoming releases:

Tudor Queens of England by David Loades will be released on May 3, 2010. According to the product description, “From Elizabeth of York - wife of Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch - through to Elizabeth I, her grand-daughter and the last in the line, this book explores some of the most colorful and dramatic women in British history. Queen consorts were central to the Royal Court but their role has rarely been examined or contrasted with the better known ruling queens.” Loades attempts to answer the questions of “How did they behave (in and out of the bedchamber)? How powerful were they as patrons of learning and the arts? What religious views did they espouse and why? How successful and influential were they?”

The amazon link (here) offers the “Look Inside” feature. Check out the Table of Contents, I like how he has divided up his book!

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The Tudors: A Brief Insight by John Guy is being released on May 4, 2010. I hadn’t heard of this one yet, but according to the product description, “John Guy provides the most authoritative overview of this age in British history, offering a compelling account of the political, religious, and economic changes that occurred under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.  In addition, Guy comprehensively reassesses the reigns of Henry VII, Edward VI, and Philip and Mary.”

Here’s the amazon link.

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And finally, perhaps the most anticipated summer release this year, Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attraction is being released on May 25, 2010. According to its product description, “Bernard reconsiders Boleyn’s girlhood, her experience at the French court, the nature of her relationship with Henry, and the authenticity of her evangelical sympathies. He depicts Anne Boleyn as a captivating, intelligent, and highly sexual woman whose attractions Henry resisted for years until marriage could ensure legitimacy for their offspring. He shows that it was Henry, not Anne, who developed the ideas that led to the break with Rome. And, most radically, he argues that the allegations of adultery that led to Anne’s execution in the Tower could be close to the truth.” There is already a lot of debate raging around it, so we shall see how it turns out once it is released!

Here’s the amazon link.

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